[OPINION] Barney: Vote ‘yes’ for Home Rule in Queen Creek

(Editor’s note: Opinion pieces are published for discussion purposes only.)

By Gail Barney | Queen Creek Independent

The upcoming Home Rule vote is important for Queen Creek residents. Why? A “yes” vote allows local control over the budgeting process for the town.

Under current state law, a “no” vote would result in a 75 percent cut to the town’s budget. Imagine public safety, streets, water, parks and every other budget being cut to a small fracture of the current plan? Without a yes vote, state law would take over the town budget process, mandating a much smaller spending plan.

Arizona law requires residents to, in effect, give a vote of confidence to town leaders. Without it, even though money would be collected for town services, the state-imposed budget process would take over. That means a budget cut of 75 percent.